The Illustrated History of the Snowman — By Bob Eckstein

The holidays have always been my favorite time of the year because of how magical and love-filled my Grandmother would work to make them, and those timeless memories are so dear and precious to me.

I have collected holiday books of all kinds for many years, and when I read about globally recognized illustator Bob Eckstein's deep dive into the history of what makes Frosty and his kin such enduring figures, I knew we had to have it on the shelves at Pretty Things & Cool Stuff!

The Illustrated History of the Snowman is a truly original winter classic -- smart, surprisingly enlightening, and well, quite simply the coolest book ever.

A thoroughly entertaining exploration, this book travels back in time to shed light on the snowman's enigmatic past — from the present day, in which the snowman reigns as the King of Kitsch, to the Dark Ages, with the creation of the very first snowman.

Eckstein's curiosity began playfully enough, but soon snowballed into a (mostly) earnest quest of chasing Frosty around the world, into museums and libraries, and seeking out the advice of leading historians and scholars.

The result is a riveting history that reaches back through centuries and across cultures — sweeping from fifteenth century Italian snowballs to eighteenth century Russian ice sculptures to what some lament as the "white-trash years" (1975-2000).

The snowman is not just part of our childhood memories, but is an integral part of our world culture, appearing — much like a frozen Forrest Gump — alongside dignitaries and celebrities during momentous events.

Again and again, the snowman pops up in rare prints, paintings, early movies, advertising and, over the past century, in every art form imaginable.

And the jolly snowman — ostensibly as pure as the driven snow — also harbors a dark past full of political intrigue, sex, and violence.

With over two hundred illustrations and many historical photos, The Illustrated History of the Snowman is an instant holiday classic and a perfect gift.

THE DETAILS

Format: New, Hardcover

Published: September 1, 2018

Publisher: Globe Pequot Press

ISBN:9781493036660

Pages: 209, more than 200 illustrations, photos

Dimensions: 9.25" inches H x 0.75" inches D x 7.5" inches W

Rating: ★★★★ 1/2 (See FAQs for more information)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bob Eckstein is an award-winning illustrator, writer, New Yorker cartoonist, snowman expert, and author of the New York Times-bestselling Footnotes from the Greatest Bookstores and The History of the Snowman.

His cartoons, OpEds, and short stories appear regularly in the New York Times, New York Daily News, MAD magazine, Barron's, Readers Digest, The Spectator, Prospect, Wall Street Journal, Playboy, among many others.

He was a columnist for the Village Voice, New York Newsday and Time Out New York. He has been interviewed in more than 100 TV, radio and magazine spots including Good Morning America and People magazine.

Related Items

John Lennon: The Collected Artwork — Art by John Lennon, Written by Scott Gutterman, Foreward by Yoko Ono

$32.50

Notify me when this product is available:

I've been waiting for this one! For the first time, in one place!

Before Lennon was a singer, a Beatle, or a music legend, he was an artist. Professionally trained, he attended the prestigious Liverpool Art Institute form 1957 to 1960.

Throughout the course of his career, John Lennon’s work as an artist expressed common societal themes from every epoch he witnessed. Until now, little of this work has been seen in one place. For the first time, John Lennon: The Collected Artworkoffers a visually captivating history of Lennon’s art from his early childhood to his untimely death in 1980.

This captivating collection includes more than 200 images and features 25 never-before-published pieces from the archives of Yoko Ono.

Often surreal and extremely vibrant, Lennon’s drawings were widely considered some of the finest interpretive art of the era.

In 1969, Lennon began exhibiting selected drawings from a series entitled Bag One. This array, now in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, was wildly popular and frequently censored due to its overt eroticism.

His peace-themed sketches have been used in antiwar movements since the 1970s. Selections from these and many other series are featured in this matchless collection, a beautiful showpiece and a timeless record of Lennon’s emotional, political, and imaginative spirit.

Lennon's artwork predated his success with The Beatles and remained a passion throughout his years as a music legend. During his lifetime, he produced numerous series of sketches and lithographs, which were published starting in the early 1960s.

Capturing his emotional, political, and imaginative energy, John Lennon: The Collected Artwork is a lavishly produced collection that will serve as a timeless record of John Lennon's creative spirit.

BOOK DETAILS

Condition: New. Hardback

Edition: First Edition - Published December 2014

Publisher: Insight Editions LLC

ISBN-13: 9781608870295

Pages: 204, 200 drawings - 25 from Yoko Ono's archives that have never been released before

Before he was a singer, a Beatle, or a music legend, John Lennon (1940 - 1980) was an artist. Professionally trained, he attended the prestigious Liverpool Art Institute from 1957 to 1960. Although Lennon is best known as a singer-songwriter, his legacy was also one of social revolution, humanitarianism, and artistry. His artwork lives on as an inspiring tribute to his hope for global peace and love.

Scott Gutterman writes about music and art for Vogue, Artforum, The New Yorker, GQ, and other publications. He is the deputy director of the Neue Galerie New York and the co-author, with Miles Davis, of Miles Davis: The Collected Artwork (Insight Editions) and The Art of Miles Davis (Prentice Hall Press). He lives in New York.

Yoko Ono is an artist and peace activist known for her work in avant-garde art, music, and filmmaking. She was married to John Lennon from 1969 until his death in 1980. She lives in New York.